Clint Hurdle remains the manager of the Rockies. The question flooding my inbox is simple: Why?

Based on his record alone, he should have been fired long ago. He’s the only manager in major-league history to begin his career with five consecutive losing seasons and not get canned.

So why do the Rockies show such patience? For starters, he has never been just the manager. From 2002 through 2006, he was the face of the franchise, the community ambassador.

The Rockies weren’t signing any big names then — their richest free-agent contract since the $175 million given Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle was Luis Vizcaino’s $7.5 million. Hurdle was the guy articulating the youth movement, charming the corporate audience, running the fantasy camp.

That created loyalty from ownership, which, much to the dismay of fans, values stability over everything. Hurdle was always willing to take the heat for the organization. And he has never, ever questioned the limited resources or payroll.

But by 2007, the dynamics had changed. General manager Dan O’Dowd was in charge again. Though working with one hand tied behind his back — just think of how many mid- level free agents could have helped this team — he soldiered on. He became a salary capologist, and committed passionately to Todd and the Toddlers.

It was O’Dowd’s decision, not ownership’s, to give Hurdle a two-year contract extension two years ago. It appeared a brilliant move when the Rockies advanced to the World Series. But the reservoir of goodwill has been siphoned. Since the Red Sox celebrated their championship at Coors Field, the Rockies are 23 games under .500.

So why is Hurdle still the manager?

He bought time with his obedience. After nearly getting fired at the end of last season, Hurdle agreed to revamp his coaching staff and run Camp Camouflage in spring training.

Where he erred, in my opinion, is not keeping the hard-line stance when the season started. Discipline imposed now reeks of desperation, even though that was his plan all along.

It puts Hurdle in a tough spot, playing his last card.

At his core, Hurdle is a good person who likes to be liked. Taskmaster? I don’t know if he can pull this off.

O’Dowd wants to give him a chance, even if the clock appears poised to run out, perhaps this week. Remember, O’Dowd, too, has benefited greatly from ownership’s patience.

O’Dowd, like Hurdle, is in the last year of his contract. So putting another driver in the cockpit will naturally increase the scrutiny on him, though I don’t see a scenario where he is let go this season.

So why not fire Hurdle? Here’s the scariest reason: It might not matter.

The Rockies have talent, but save for a few guys, they aren’t cold-blooded in the game’s biggest moments. That is why the 2-9 record in one-run games is an indictment of the players as much as it is Hurdle.

If the Rockies don’t find a way to develop a killer instinct, the manager will be the least of their problems.

Footnotes.

San Diego pitcher Jake Peavy will be traded, but he controls the process. He’s going to steer it to a National League club, and don’t rule out the Dodgers. . . . Atlanta’s Chipper Jones, who is going to be hard-pressed to reach 3,000 hits, said, “If I knew I would be this close at the end, I wouldn’t have walked so much.”

EYE ON …

LF Juan Pierre, Los Angeles Dodgers

Background: The Rockies unearthed Juan Pierre, drafting him from South Alabama. He was their starting center fielder by the summer of 2000. He was a franchise cornerstone in 2001, and bait in the Mike Hampton trade after the 2002 season. Pierre landed on his feet, winning a World Series championship ring with the 2003 Florida Marlins. After a layover with the Cubs, he signed a five-year, $44.5 million contract with the Dodgers. He cashed in, as you can tell, before the market crashed.

What’s up: He was destined to become a $28.5 million bench ornament this season when Manny Ramirez re-signed. Pierre told me at the end of last year that he was hoping for a trade, but there was no way the Dodgers were going to eat $20 million to move him — not when they had to pay roughly that amount to make Andruw Jones go away. With Ramirez busted for taking fertility drugs — he’s octoman — Pierre got his break. Before Saturday, he was hitting .405 with eight doubles and 12 RBIs in 84 at-bats. He will play Monday for L.A. at Coors Field.

Renck’s take: What I like most about Pierre is that he’s a winner. He makes teams and teammates better. For all the talk about the Rockies lacking mental toughness, Pierre is an example of what they are missing.

AT ISSUE

Boston’s Ortiz going through power outage

What: David Ortiz ended the greatest drought since “The Grapes of Wrath” — at least according to Red Sox Nation — with his first home run of the season.

When: It came Wednesday, in his 38th game. It was his 136th at-bat of the season.

Background: Papi blasted a fastball from Toronto’s Brett Cecil that caromed off the back wall in left- center. The Fenway Park faithful gave him a curtain call as he exhaled.

Renck’s take: And now comes tomorrow. And the next day. It’s the pink elephant in the room: What will the Red Sox do if Papi doesn’t show consistent power? His one marketable skill is hitting. Take that away, and he’s a liability. I have talked to multiple scouts who say Ortiz is struggling to catch up with 87 mph fastballs. And he has to cheat and open up to do it, leaving him vulnerable to any decent off-speed pitch. Don’t be surprised if Boston attempts to trade for a bat like Matt Holliday or an even younger slugger.

UPS AND DOWNS

THREE UP

1. Yankees: Since A-Rod became his bodyguard May 8, Mark Teixeira has hit six home runs.

2. Brewers: On pace for 103 victories, without CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets.

3. Phillies: Raul Ibañez is an early MVP candidate with 17 home runs, 42 RBIs.

THREE DOWN

1. White Sox: Suffered worst loss in franchise history Thursday, same day they were rebuffed by Padres pitcher Jake Peavy.

Troy joined The Denver Post in 2002 as the Rockies' beat writer and became a Broncos beat writer in 2014 before assuming the lead role before the 2015 season. He is a past president of the local chapter of Baseball Writers Association of America and has won more than 20 local and national writing awards since graduating from the University of Colorado journalism school with honors in 1993.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Tyreek Hill didn’t know what to do when he started hearing thousands of people in Arrowhead Stadium chanting his name, even as he stood all alone on the frozen turf waiting for the punt.